Sonographer (PRN)

JOB SUMMARY

• This is for our Perinatal Sonography Team- high risk OBGYN experience preferred.

• Must be flexible with work hours to meet department needs.

• Must be dependable, accountable and cooperative.

• Assists with providing safe, age appropriate care to the patient by performing all exams provided by the department per department protocols.

• Has the knowledge and ability to properly and safely obtain a quality diagnostic study.

• Responsible for performing a wide variety of technical procedures requiring independent judgment, ingenuity and initiative in the utilization of equipment for the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases.

• Able to independently perform job functions.

• Sets up the equipment to provide imaging service and positions patient for the procedure.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Equipment
• Demonstrates the ability to adjust technique so that patient receives the lowest possible dose of ionizing radiation and that image quality is maintained.
• Reports problems regarding malfunctioning equipment to supervisor or service provider, so that problem can be corrected in a timely manner.
• Cleans, disinfects and maintains equipment in accordance with infection control policy and department cleaning schedule.

Patient Care
• Verifies proper clinician order for procedure.
• Obtains complete clinical history, gathers examination data and assesses for contraindicating conditions.
• Ensures that all studies have proper patient identification and right and left marker are utilized appropriately.
• Reviews ultrasound images for clinically acceptable results and releases patients.
• Responds to emergency situations and maintenance of life support equipment.
• Assists other technologists in all modalities when needed.
• Observes patient condition and properly evaluates situations when physician intervention is necessary so that no patient condition deteriorates.
• Verifies correct identity of patient using 2 unique identifiers prior to performing a procedure per hospital policy and procedure.
• Ensures patient’s privacy and comfort is accommodated. Maintains patient’s dignity throughout the exam/procedure.
• Demonstrates competence in the determination and application of appropriate procedures, equipment, supplies and techniques based on the age of patients.
• Organizes schedule, time and priorities so that required activities are accomplished within designated time frames.
• Follows physician’s instructions when assisting with procedures and exams.
• Uses critical thinking skills.
• Dialogs with patient/family
• Asks clarifying questions.
• Seeks clarification on ambiguous orders.
• Understands, demonstrates and documents preprocedural verification and Time Out process when appropriate.
• Demonstrates and understands pre-and-post procedural care.
• Preps the patient for the procedure.
• Demonstrates and understands sterile technique

Education and Communication
• Patiently and clearly explains purpose and nature of exam to patient prior to starting of procedure, so as to minimize anxiety and facilitate cooperation using AIDET; Acknowledge, Introduce, Discuss, Explain, and Thank you of all patients and family members.
• Ensures that patient’s questions, concerns or contraindications are satisfactorily addressed, notifying physician when this cannot be accomplished, prior to the initiation of the procedure.
• Participates in the orientation and training of departmental employees.
• Provides patients with preparatory instruction and explanation of procedures.
• Required documentation is concise, legible and includes precise terminology.
• Reads email each day scheduled to work and follows through with assignment.
• Completes mandatory departmental and Hospital-wide education without prompting.

Quality Control
• Consistently produces acceptable images, as evidenced by provider feedback and quality audits
• Ensures that equipment is fully operational prior to each use, by checking for proper calibration and operating deficiencies.
• Sends all studies to PACS immediately after completion, prints CD’s as needed.
• Studies that have been reported after hours by teleradiography are printed and scanned into PACS, if applicable.
• Completes all studies in RIS before completing in PACS.
• Prints completed log sheet from teleradiography and submits to Radiologist, if applicable
• Performs and maintains quality control logs for probe disinfection and follows infection control policies

Operations
• Restocks linens and supplies, and maintains the department in clean and orderly condition.
• Transports patients, positions patients, and helps them on and off procedure table.
• Performs patient charging activities on the day the service is rendered.
• Applies supportive and immobilization devices and equipment. If needed
• Willingly lends knowledge and assistance to others upon request as needed and routinely as time is available, without prompting, so that all working time is used for departmental advantage.
• Performs routine duties of clerical and support personnel in accordance with procedure when warranted to ensure continuity and quality of services.
• Keeps supervisor informed on all responsibilities on an ongoing basis, ensuring prompt notification in the event of problems or potential problems.
• Maintains an individual productivity rate equal to other co-workers.
• Ability to operate all work stations associated with the US department.
• Ability to push / retrieve images from the Ultrasound console to PACS.
• Maintain Joint Commission standards and any other regulatory agency standards.
• Takes call when necessary
• Any other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.



JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Required Minimum Education
• High School Diploma General Required
• and( GED General Required or)
• Trade School Diploma/Degree Diagnostic Medical Sonography Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)
• ARDMS - Registered Medical Sonographer Upon Hire Required
• and( ARRT-S - ARRT Sonography Upon Hire Required or)
• BLS - Basic Life Support Upon Hire Required
• and( ARC-BLS - Amer Red Cross Basic Life Support Upon Hire Required or BLS-I - Basic Life Support - Instructor Upon Hire Required or)

Required Minimum Experience
• Successful completion of a Sonography Training Program Required
• and Minimum 1 year clinical experience. Preferred